Method for reducing ignition delay of fuels

Claim 1

A method of reducing ignition delay, τ, of a fuel, to a negligible value, comprising the steps of: determining τ according to a relation wherein τ˜(1/KwN.sub.o)e.sup.+E.sbsp.a.sup./RT f; where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; and heating the fuel prior to injection into an oxidant to a temperature T f such that the fuel self-ignites substantially instantaneously when injected into an oxidant, such that the fuel requires substantially no heat transfer from the oxidant to effect said self-ignition, and such that the amount of said self-ignition is sufficient to sustain continued combustion.

Claim 2

A method of reducing ignition delay, τ, of a fuel, to a negligible value, comprising the steps of: determining τ according to a relation wherein τ˜(1/KwN.sub.o)e.sup.+E.sbsp.a.sup./RT f; where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; and heating the fuel prior to injection into an oxidant to a temperature T f such that the fuel self-ignites substantially instantaneously when injected into an oxidant, such that the fuel requires substantially no heat transfer from the oxidant to effect said self-ignition, and such that the amount of said self-ignition is sufficient to sustain continued combustion.

Claim 3

A method of reducing ignition delay, τ, of fuels to negligible amounts, comprising the steps of: ascertaining a negligible τ according to a relation wherein τ˜(1/KwN.sub.o)e.sup.+E.sbsp.a.sup./RT f, where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; heating the fuel to at least a temperature T f providing said negligible τ according to said relation; and injecting the fuel into an oxidant at the temperature T f such that the fuel self-ignites substantially instantaneously, such that the fuel requies substantially no heat transfer from the oxidant to effect said self-ignition, and such that the amount of self-ignition is sufficient to sustain continued combustion.

Claim 4

A method of reducing ignition delay, τ, of fuels to negligible amounts, comprising the steps of: ascertaining a negligible τ according to a relation wherein τ˜(1/KwN.sub.o)e.sup.+E.sbsp.a.sup./RT f, where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; heating the fuel to at least a temperature T f providing said negligible τ according to said relation; and injecting the fuel into an oxidant at the temperature T f such that the fuel self-ignites substantially instantaneously, such that the fuel requies substantially no heat transfer from the oxidant to effect said self-ignition, and such that the amount of self-ignition is sufficient to sustain continued combustion.

Claim 6

A method of reducing ignition delay, τ, of a fuel such that the fuel self-ignites substantially instantaneously when injected into an oxidant independent of the oxidant temperature, comprising the steps of: ascertaining a τ of less than 0.1 msec for the fuel according to a relation wherein τ˜(1/KwN.sub.o)e.sup.+E.sbsp.a.sup./RT f, where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; heating the fuel to a temperature, T f prior to injection into the oxidant such that said τ is satisfied and such that the fuel requires substantially no heat transfer from said oxidant to effect ignition sufficient to sustain continued combustion.

Claim 7

A method of reducing ignition delay, τ, of a fuel such that the fuel self-ignites substantially instantaneously when injected into an oxidant independent of the oxidant temperature, comprising the steps of: ascertaining a τ of less than 0.1 msec for the fuel according to a relation wherein τ˜(1/KwN.sub.o)e.sup.+E.sbsp.a.sup./RT f, where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; heating the fuel to a temperature, T f prior to injection into the oxidant such that said τ is satisfied and such that the fuel requires substantially no heat transfer from said oxidant to effect ignition sufficient to sustain continued combustion.

Claim 8

A method of reducing ignition delay of hydrogen and/or carbon fuels of varying molecular structure in an oxidant such that the ignition delay, τ, of the fuels is substantially instantaneous, independent of the oxidant temperature, and within a time period defined by a relation wherein ##EQU11## where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; comprising the steps of: ascertaining the maximum acceptable τ for each of said fuels; heating each of said fuels to a temperature, T f , prior to injection into the oxidant such that said maximum τ is satisfied and such that each of said fuels require substantially no heat transfer from said oxidant to said molecules prior to ignition sufficient to sustain continued combustion.

Claim 9

A method of reducing ignition delay of hydrogen and/or carbon fuels of varying molecular structure in an oxidant such that the ignition delay, τ, of the fuels is substantially instantaneous, independent of the oxidant temperature, and within a time period defined by a relation wherein ##EQU11## where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; comprising the steps of: ascertaining the maximum acceptable τ for each of said fuels; heating each of said fuels to a temperature, T f , prior to injection into the oxidant such that said maximum τ is satisfied and such that each of said fuels require substantially no heat transfer from said oxidant to said molecules prior to ignition sufficient to sustain continued combustion.

Claim 10

A method of reducing ignition delays of a family of hydrogen and/or carbon fuels in an oxidant substantially independent of oxidant temperature to facilitate the use of multiple fuels in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: ascertaining the maximum acceptable ignition delay, τ, for the family of fuels according to a relation wherein τ˜(1/KwN.sub.o)e.sup.+E.sbsp.a.sup./RT f, where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; heating each of said fuels prior to injection into the oxidant to a temperature, T f , satisfying said maximum τ; and injecting said heated fuel into said chamber.

Claim 11

A method of reducing ignition delays of a family of hydrogen and/or carbon fuels in an oxidant substantially independent of oxidant temperature to facilitate the use of multiple fuels in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: ascertaining the maximum acceptable ignition delay, τ, for the family of fuels according to a relation wherein τ˜(1/KwN.sub.o)e.sup.+E.sbsp.a.sup./RT f, where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; heating each of said fuels prior to injection into the oxidant to a temperature, T f , satisfying said maximum τ; and injecting said heated fuel into said chamber.

Claim 12

A method of controlling combustion of a given hydrogen and/or carbon fuel in an expandable chamber of a Diesel Cycle engine such that combustion occurs at substantially constant pressure, comprising the steps of ascertaining a substantially instantaneous ignition delay, τ, for said fuel as defined by a relation wherein ##EQU12## where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; heating said given fuel to a temperature, T f , satisfying said τ prior to injection into an oxidant in the chamber; and injecting said heated fuel into the chamber at a rate increasing with time and for a time period increasing with engine load.

Claim 13

A method of controlling combustion of a given hydrogen and/or carbon fuel in an expandable chamber of a Diesel Cycle engine such that combustion occurs at substantially constant pressure, comprising the steps of ascertaining a substantially instantaneous ignition delay, τ, for said fuel as defined by a relation wherein ##EQU12## where τ is the ignition delay, K is the temperature rise when one fuel molecule is oxidized, w is the reaction rate of the fuel molecules in air, N o is the density of molecules in ground and excited states at time (t)=O, e is the base of natural logarithms, E a is the activation energy of the fuel, R is the universal gas constant, and T f is the temperature of the fuel; heating said given fuel to a temperature, T f , satisfying said τ prior to injection into an oxidant in the chamber; and injecting said heated fuel into the chamber at a rate increasing with time and for a time period increasing with engine load.